Our Genealogy Helper
Introduction ...
We have a couple of goals for our Gazetteer:
- That it be a tool which helps us with planning our trips.
- We're trying to shape our Gazetteer as a tool to help us understand the community in which our ancestors lived, the community that was part of their daily lives.
- On our trips, we try to visit those places where our ancestors left their footprints.
By learning about Elba (and the surrounding area) during the time that our ancestors lived, we hope to have a better understanding of both their community and its relationship to their lifes. We hope that this tool helps to give us an insight into their world.
As we add data and organize our Gazetteer to help with our family research, we will be adding to this our Genealogical Helper for Elba. While we don't have information that is specific to any given person or family, we intend to expand our understanding about where and how people lived.
Neighboring Counties ...
When searching for family records, we have frequently made the mistake of not checking the neighboring counties.
For example, we have great-grandparents who lived in the northwest corner of their home county. During their lives, most hospitals were in the next county to the west. Almost all of the nearby churches and cemeteries were in the county to the north.
So when searching for records, we had our best success by looking in neighboring counties instead of the county in which they lived: their home county contained property and probate records; the county to the west contained birth and death records; the county to the north contained their burial records. If we hadn't included the neighboring counties, we would have missed many valuable sources of information.
If you're in a similar situation, we hope that the following information helps.
Elba is located in Winona County.
To see how the shape of Minnesota's counties may have changed over time, we recommend the Atlas of Historical County Boundaries.
The following counties adjoin and form the boundaries of Winona County: Fillmore, Houston, Olmsted, Wabasha, Buffalo (WI), La Crosse (WI) & Trempealeau (WI).
Below are the counties that are near Elba. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Elba:
- Winona County (The home county of Elba)
- The following are listed by their distance from Elba, with the one closest to Elba listed first.
- Altura
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
- Beaver ‑ Historic
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
- Beaver is located in Winona County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Beaver
- Saint Charles
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
- Utica
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
- Rollingstone
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
- Lewiston
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
- Stockton
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the east)
- Stockton is located in Winona County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stockton
- Population from the 2020 Census: 773 people
- Minnesota City
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the east)
- Clyde
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
- Clyde is located in Winona County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clyde
- Saratoga
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
- Saratoga is located in Winona County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Saratoga
- Goodview
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the east)
- Goodview is located in Winona County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Goodview
- Population from the 2020 Census: 4,127 people
- Troy
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the south)
- Troy is located in Winona County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Troy
- Fillmore County
- The following are listed by their distance from Elba, with the one closest to Elba listed first.
- Chatfield
(18 miles [29 km] to the southwest)
- Peterson
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
- Rushford Village
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
- Rushford Village is located in Fillmore County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rushford Village
- Population from the 2020 Census: 838 people
- Rushford
(23 miles [37 km] to the southeast)
- South Rushford
(23 miles [37 km] to the southeast)
- South Rushford is located in Fillmore County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for South Rushford
- Fountain
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
- Whalan
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
- Lanesboro
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
- Fillmore
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
- Fillmore is located in Fillmore County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fillmore
- Bratsberg
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
- Bratsberg is located in Fillmore County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bratsberg
- Preston
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
- Wykoff
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
- Houston County
- Money Creek
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
- Money Creek is located in Houston County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Money Creek
- Olmsted County
- The following are listed by their distance from Elba, with the one closest to Elba listed first.
- Dover
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
- Eyota
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)
- Viola
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the west)
- Viola is located in Olmsted County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Viola
- Potsdam
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the west)
- Potsdam is located in Olmsted County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Potsdam
- Predmore
(18 miles [29 km] to the southwest)
- Predmore is located in Olmsted County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Predmore
- Simpson
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
- Simpson is located in Olmsted County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Simpson
- Rochester
(23 miles [37 km] to the west)
- Oronoco
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
- Stewartville
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
- Genoa
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
- Genoa is located in Olmsted County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Genoa
- Post Town
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
- Post Town is located in Olmsted County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Post Town
- Wabasha County
- The following are listed by their distance from Elba, with the one closest to Elba listed first.
- Weaver
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
- Weaver is located in Wabasha County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Weaver
- Plainview
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
- Minneiska
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
- Elgin
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)
- Kellogg
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the north)
- Millville
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northwest)
- Jarrett
(18 miles [29 km] to the northwest)
- Jarrett is located in Wabasha County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jarrett
- Wabasha
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the north)
- Hammond
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northwest)
- Hammond is located in Wabasha County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hammond
- Population from the 2020 Census: 167 people
- Reads Landing
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
- Zumbro Falls
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
- Lake City
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
- Buffalo County (WI)
- The following are listed by their distance from Elba, with the one closest to Elba listed first.
- Buffalo City
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northeast)
- Buffalo City is located in Buffalo County (WI)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Buffalo City
- Population from the 2020 Census: 948 people
- Buffalo
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northeast)
- Buffalo is located in Buffalo County (WI)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Buffalo
- Cochrane
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northeast)
- Cochrane is located in Buffalo County (WI)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cochrane
- Population from the 2020 Census: 409 people
- Fountain City
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the east)
- Fountain City is located in Buffalo County (WI)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fountain City
- Population from the 2020 Census: 842 people
- Alma
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the north)
- Alma is located in Buffalo County (WI)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Alma
- Population from the 2020 Census: 713 people
- Anchorage ‑ Historic
(18 miles [29 km] to the northeast)
- Anchorage is located in Buffalo County (WI)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Anchorage
- Bluff Siding
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the east)
- Bluff Siding is located in Buffalo County (WI)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bluff Siding
- Waumandee
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northeast)
- Waumandee is located in Buffalo County (WI)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Waumandee
- Marshland
(23 miles [37 km] to the east)
- Marshland is located in Buffalo County (WI)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Marshland
- Nelson
(23 miles [37 km] to the north)
- Nelson is located in Buffalo County (WI)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Nelson
- Population from the 2020 Census: 343 people
- Montana
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
- Montana is located in Buffalo County (WI)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Montana
- Maxville
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
- Maxville is located in Buffalo County (WI)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Maxville
- Population from the 2020 Census: 302 people
- Pepin County (WI)
- The following are listed by their distance from Elba, with the one closest to Elba listed first.
- Pepin
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
- Pepin is located in Pepin County (WI)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pepin
- Population from the 2020 Census: 747 people
- Lakeport
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
- Lakeport is located in Pepin County (WI)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lakeport
- Stockholm
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
- Stockholm is located in Pepin County (WI)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stockholm
- Population from the 2020 Census: 64 people
- Barry Corner
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
- Barry Corner is located in Pepin County (WI)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Barry Corner
- Trempealeau County (WI)
- The following are listed by their distance from Elba, with the one closest to Elba listed first.
- Wrights Corners
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
- Wrights Corners is located in Trempealeau County (WI)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wrights Corners
- Arcadia
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
- Arcadia is located in Trempealeau County (WI)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Arcadia
- Population from the 2020 Census: 3,026 people
- Trempealeau
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
- Trempealeau is located in Trempealeau County (WI)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Trempealeau
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,663 people
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Elba, see our County-by-County Page for Elba.
Cemeteries Near Elba ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Elba.
This is a new section and is likely to have errors. If you find an error, such as a missing cemetery or we have the wrong name, please let us know. If you know of them, we would also appreciate learning about previous or alternate names.
Although we don't have the information ourselves, if you need information about a burial or interment, photos, transcripts, how to contact the cemetery or local authorities, please visit our list of websites on our Genealogy Helper Page for Elba - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Elba covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Elba, with the one closest to Elba listed first.
- St. Aloysius Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the north)
- Fairwater Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the west)
- Berea Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the south)
- Whitewater Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
- Beaver Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
- Hebron Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
- Woodlawn Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
- Hoosier Ridge Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
- Trinity Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
- Young Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
- Little Valley Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
- Calvary Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
- Continue List (190 more) ...
- Carpenter Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
- Hillside Cemetery
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
- Evergreen Cemetery
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
Nearby Communities in 1895 ...
We've built the following list with information that came from an Atlas published by Rand McNally in 1895. The Atlas had details such as the population of the community (which appears to have come from the 1890 Census) and whether there was a post office and/or railroad service available. We also indicate if the community no longer exists and is now historic.<2>
The Rand McNally Atlas shows that in 1895, Elba had a post office and no railroad service. In 2020, Elba had a population of 156 people.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Elba, with the one closest to Elba listed first.
- Altura
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
- Beaver ‑ Historic
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
- Beaver is located in Winona County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Beaver
- Oakridge
(5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
- Oakridge is located in Winona County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oakridge
- Saint Charles
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
- Utica
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
- Dover
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
- Rollingstone
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
- Weaver
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
- Weaver is located in Wabasha County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Weaver
- Plainview
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
- Lewiston
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
- Minneiska
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
- Whitman
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
- Whitman is located in Winona County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Whitman
- Continue List (14 more) ...
- Elgin
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)
- Eyota
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)
- Stockton
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the east)
- Stockton is located in Winona County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stockton
- Population from the 2020 Census: 773 people
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Elba. See our List of 1890's Communities around Elba.
Newspapers Published in Elba ...
An ongoing effort between the Library of Congress and the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) has resulted in the National Digital Newspaper Program (NDNP).
To share their results, the partnership has created the Chronicling America website. The goal of this partnership is to assemble a database about the current and historic newspapers of the United States. This includes a growing collection of scanned images from selected papers. All of it available to the public on their website.
Using information that we've taken from the Chronicling America website, we've identified 105 newspapers that have been published in the area around Elba.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Elba, there are papers which were published within 30 miles [48.3 km]<3>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Elba.
Websites to Help With Your Genealogy Research ...
When we do our genealogical research, we first turn to the websites from Cyndi's List, FamilySearch and Genealogy Trails. These websites either offer the information directly or else point to where you can find it. Their information is open to everyone.
To help you get started, the following links will take you to the pages that are relevant to Elba:
- Websites specific to Minnesota
- Pages specific to Winona County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Fillmore County
- Houston County
- Olmsted County
- Wabasha County
- Buffalo County
- Pepin County
- Trempealeau County
- Cemetery Information and Directories for Minnesota
Footnotes ...
| <1> | While we're fans and frequent users of TripAdvisor, you should know that we're also members of the TripAdvisor affiliate program. |
| <2> | We use the term 'Historic' broadly and it generally means that the community no longer exists. However, it can also mean that the community might still exist, but was significantly larger or had a more 'official' existence in the past than it does now. Unfortunately our sources of data have proven to be unreliable. If you can provide us with more specific information about Elba, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy. |
| <3> | Our distances are not driving distances, but are calculated as a 'straight-line' (or point-to-point) distance. A straight line distance ignores obstructions like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line drawn from Point A (ie- Elba) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |